Everest Fang is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentary: Port workers meet to discuss potential strike strategy, and AT&T workers enter the third week of their strike.
Delegates representing chapters of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), are meeting today and tomorrow to discuss a proposed contract with the organization’s wage scale committee. The meetings could provide insight into whether the union, which represents tens of thousands of workers at U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, will follow through on its threat to strike on October 1st. The meetings are intended to allow members to strategize ahead of the potential strike. ILA’s negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents ports ownership, broke down in July. The union announced it canceled talks after discovering that automated technology was being used by APM Terminals and Maersk, the world’s second-largest shipping company and APM Terminals’ parent company, to process trucks at port terminals without union labor. In August, ILA president Harold Daggett said that membership was 100% behind ILA leadership’s decision to strike on October 1 if the union’s demands are not met. ILA’s contract expires at the end of the month.
More than 17,000 AT&T workers in the southeast have entered the third week of their strike in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) have accused the company of unfair labor practices for attempting to further delay bargaining on a new union contract. The workers on strike include technicians, customer service representatives and others who install, maintain and support AT&T’s network. In 2019, the union filed unfair labor practice charges over the company’s delays in bargaining a new contract, resulting in AT&T managers attending bargaining sessions, and a tentative agreement reached shortly thereafter. Despite this history, the same delays seem to be playing out. CWA is seeking wage increases that take inflation into account, and protections that improve their work-life balance.
Daily News & Commentary
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August 1
The Michigan Supreme Court grants heightened judicial scrutiny over employment contracts that shorten the limitations period for filing civil rights claims; the California Labor Commission gains new enforcement power over tip theft; and a new Florida law further empowers employers issuing noncompete agreements.
July 31
EEOC sued over trans rights enforcement; railroad union opposes railroad merger; suits against NLRB slow down.
July 30
In today’s news and commentary, the First Circuit will hear oral arguments on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) revocation of parole grants for thousands of migrants; United Airlines’ flight attendants vote against a new labor contract; and the AFL-CIO files a complaint against a Trump Administrative Executive Order that strips the collective bargaining rights of the vast majority of federal workers.
July 29
The Trump administration released new guidelines for federal employers regarding religious expression in the workplace; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers is suing former union president for repayment of mismanagement of union funds; Uber has criticized a new proposal requiring delivery workers to carry company-issued identification numbers.
July 28
Lower courts work out meaning of Muldrow; NLRB releases memos on recording and union salts.
July 27
In today’s news and commentary, Trump issues an EO on college sports, a second district court judge blocks the Department of Labor from winding down Job Corps, and Safeway workers in California reach a tentative agreement. On Thursday, President Trump announced an executive order titled “Saving College Sports,” which declared it common sense that “college […]